CCEA 2019 Conference "Moving into the Future Together"

The need for consistency in the transient nature of Continuation school has lead Dr. John H. Milor High School to streamline their orientation process.  JMHS intakes a minimum of 40-50 students each quarter.  We wanted to start all of our new students out on the same foot, no matter where they were coming from.  We also wanted to know what they needed from us, so we can best serve them.  The orientation we designed not only introduces the student to the school processes; such as PBIS expectations, student handbook information, and the overall school community expectations. Through the use of technology, we administer multiple assessments to attain baseline information for each individual student.  All this occurs during a traditional school day, allowing the students to attend a day of school on the JMHS campus, and get a feel for the site.  Through this orientation process, we have been able to create better initial connections with students and their families and set them up for success. Students are presented with the school social climate expectations, as well as the academic expectations.  They are informed about how to be advocates for their own education.  They learn how to read their transcripts.  Student's current academic knowledge is assessed.  They take a math assessment and write a personal essay.  These essays are assessed for writing knowledge, as well as social/emotional needs.  All aspects of the orientation utilize the content and academic language.  Our high standards for academic and social success are modeled through the way we present the information and how we present ourselves and our school.  The orientation is a snapshot, for the students, about how Milor will be when they attend.

Students learn nothing in the office, and discipline exclusions can actually make student misbehavior worse. Yet you can't just let inappropriate behaviors slide by. This session will show participants 5 key classroom management strategies that can be implemented immediately - at no cost - that will decrease office referrals, correct disruptive student behavior, and improve student-teacher relationships. The strategies include:
- Practical ways to build rapport and trust with students
- How to create a supportive physical environment
- How to teach behavior expectations and routines instead of waiting for students to misbehave and then punishing them
- Managing your own emotions so you can avoid power struggles and escalation
- How to be consistent and fair with all students
Each participant will receive a reference guide packed with effective classroom management strategies that work. Teachers will be able to use the resource guide to implement the strategies in their own classrooms. Administrators and instructional coaches will be able to use the resource guide to train their staff.

Why is bullying such a prevalent behavior that between 100-400 MILLION kids engage in it each year? Why aren’t anti-bullying programs effective? In this workshop, we will examine the evolutionary causes of bullying and the functions that it serves. We will look at the bully, the bully-victim, how to lessen the behavior and how to assist the bully-victim.